Tuesday, July 15, 2008

TUESDAY 15 JULY 2008- BIRTH CERTS ISSUED BY SULU SULTAN IS NOT VALID: DOMPOK



Birth certs issued by Sulu Sultan not valid: Dompok

PENAMPANG:


Birth certificates issued by the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu for Filipinos in Sabah are not valid, according to the Minister in thePrime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok. “We know very well this type of certificate is not valid and is something that is of no legal constitutional importance in Sabah. The document is not binding to anybody and is like those diplomas that you can buy in the Internet,” he said.The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (UPKO) President cum Penampang Member of Parliament said this when met after a courtesy call by the Penampang - Jaycees Moyog River Cleanliness Campaign Committee yesterday. He was asked to comment on Kota Kinabalu MP and DAP chief Dr Hiew King Cheu’s claims that Filipinos in Sabah had been issued with birth certificates by the selfproclaimed Sultan of Sulu. “I have to see such a birth certificate and in fact I had a meeting this morning with the District Security Committee which was attended by the Police, Immigration Department and other relevant departments. “I have asked them specifically about this but as yet, no one has seen such a document,” he said adding that the issuance of the document should not have any connection to the Philippine Government’s claim to Sabah. “How can that be? Malaysia is a sovereign country ... Sabah is a state in a sovereign country and Sabah has long been recognized by the international community as a part of Malaysia. “I think that is no longer a question so anybody issuing birth certificate or other people who have weird ideas (are reminded) that it is something of no official or legal significance at all,” he said.

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